The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-17
The Campfire Last N,cht.


The Grand Army campfire held at Tomlinson
Hall last evening. was gratifying success, not
only to those upon whom had devolved the arch
itecture of the programme, but to the audience
In attendance. which filled the hall to its ulti-
mate seating capacity. The stage manager, De-
partment Commander Bennett, in calling the
audience to order, announced that it was to be
Ike nm old-fashioned class meeting, a free-for-
all, yet the printed programme was closely ad-
hered to, and everything worked smoothly and
rapidly without waits or breaks
After prayer by the department chaplain Rev
Ira %. Chase. Miss Nettie Johnson upon special
invitation OF the department commander and
many other comrades who remembered memo
rial day. sang Aud Lang Syner in a manner
richly deserving the recall which was given.
Governor Gray was then introduced, and
spoke briefly, but eloquently, to the sentiment:
The Commonwealth of Indiana." After paying
just tribute to the State to resources, he
said 1t was not alone conspicuous account of
It's wealth, but by reason of the devotion of it's
citizens to the cause Of liberty. OF the soldiers,
he said they had been members of ona of the
grandest armies the world had ever seen from
the time Nmrod trod the valleys of the Euphra-
ties to the present, and that it had wrought out
for the oppressed and down trodden the equities
OF citizenship and given them a place among
men.
Mayor Caleb S. Denny briefly welcomed the
organization to the city
lsom S. Keith Post Quartet. Of Columbus
Ind, then sang Rock of Ages" in such q man
organization. composed of Prof. W. e. Bates,
Prof A. Fl. Graham, B. NJ. Hutchins and DR.
George T. Mccoy, was one of the features of the
evening They sang several numbers, and the
audience each time wanted more.
Comrade John W. Linck, member of the House
OF Representatives from Jefferson county, re-
spondej eloauentiy to the sentiment, 1.-THE Union
Soldier He said he would leave their praise to
4%h
fought, and that the freedom of the slave was
the cause OF the war, and the fact that the fight
was for their freedom would yet be the brightest
| lines in the record OF those who wore the blue.
Miss Genevieve Elliott recited sThe Pride of
| Battery b. later rendering "Riding Down"
| in manner that few professionals can approx
innate in perfection of accent, information and
| facial play and control. In fact the reading of
both pieces was the perfection of art.
| Ben l.. Smith, president Of the board fof
| trustees Of the Soldiers Orphans Home, re-
| sponded eloquently to the sentiments. ''The
| Soldiers Orphans" taking tho ground that it is
not charity that the wards Of the State at
Knightstown receive, but their rights Quoting
in his remarks from . poem read not long
since. at the laying Of the corner stone of the
| new institution, as an illustration Of the idea
that CHARITY is not being doled out to these
| children
Following Mr.. Smiths remarks Miss Nettie
johnson sang 1.-THE Star-spanged Banner" in a
| manner which excited the enthusiasm Of the
whole audience.
Gen. Jamcs r. Carr ahan responded briefly to
THE Memorial to Indiana's Dead" in his usual
eloquent manner.
Miss Sidelia Starr, of Greencastle, recited a
poem by Capt. Jack Crawford. the scout, in q
| manner which excited tho audience to a wild
pitch OF enthusiasm. an encore being insisted
upon, the young lady repeating several of the
last stanzas.
Hon. John r. Cushman responded briefly to
"The Young Men of Our Country" and Gen. M
d. Manson to 'The Soldiers Of All Our Wars.
| General Mansons popularity with soldiers is at
tested by tho fact that his appearance in AM
audience composed of them is tho signal for
| greeting that must warm the cookies OF AM
heart capable of being touched by evidence o
such regard The proceedings Of the evening
were terminated by the singing Of the soldiers
doxoloey, Marching through Georgia"
Favors the Most Liberal Pension Policy
Mr.. c. A. Power, secretary of the Indiana Sol
diers Pension Association. yesterday receive,
the following telegram from Congressman-elec
Cheadle, OF Frankfort
"Sickuess prevents nv attendance Give m,
love to all the comrades. and ask them to de
mand the amplest protection by proper pension
for all disabled comrades Let US make thi
claim because of pledges made by the govern
| ment to all who risked life in its defense TIL
government kept its pledges to men who riske,
their money by buying its bonds; let it now kee]
them to men who risked their lives that i
might live. hold it to be q self-evdent trutl
that to permit any honorable soldier who suffer
from wounds or disease incurred In service, o
whose health is broken by reason Of exposure i,
that service, to want for food. clothing, medi
cine or absolute necessaries of life Is natiopa
disgrace. This muat be true so long loyalt
: remains virtue l shall favor the most liberia
pension policy so long as q dollar remains in tn
national treasury, or one can be drawn into
by tariff and revenue taxation"